Kristen Paul

Kristen Paul

G.U. Alumni Association Scholar, '05-'07

B.A., Public Relations, '07

Kristen’s entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit was evident as a student at Gonzaga. Not only did she major in public relations and minor in political science, she also was involved in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, in which she was project manager for the New Venture Lab. “I wanted the opportunity to work hands-on with startups,” she said.

She spent her junior year abroad in the Gonzaga-in-Florence program, something many of her family members had done before her. One of her favorite memories is traveling through Europe. “And I met some of my best friends during that time,” she added.

Kristen admits she has too many favorite memories to list, but remembers “Springtime days at Gonzaga when everyone from Welch and Desmet would be on the lawn between the two buildings – playing Frisbee, doing homework, etc. This is where I met so many people my freshman year.” She also fondly recalls three-hour long meals at the COG chatting with friends.

Most of all, she recalls the overall sense of community at Gonzaga, “walking around campus and having people you don’t know say hi to you.”

Now she is an account executive at Desautel Hege Communications, a public relations firm in Spokane. She continues to stay connected with Gonzaga through the Spokane Chapter of the Alumni Association, reunion weekends, and of course comparing notes about her Gonzaga days with family members who also are alums, including her mother, two aunts and an uncle.

And she continues to be very grateful for her Alumni Association Scholarship: “As a student who financed my own education, scholarships and financial aid were crucial to my ability to finish school. The Alumni Association Scholarship was even more special because the funding comes from a large base of Gonzaga alums who are dedicated to helping current students. It was an honor to receive an alumni scholarship and inspired me to give to GU as a young alum.”